Security of London Olympic 2012 - Term Paper Example

Security of London Olympic 2012 Introduction London Olympic Game that was scheduled to last for nine days sparked many preparations from various people. More than 700,000 people were expected to attend the event in London; all these people had to be secure and free from any terror attacks. It was thus the responsibility of the government to ensure that the security was up to date. Security was a major issue being that there was an alarm raised by terrorist just immediately the announcement of the Olympic Winning Bid by London. There was a terror bombing, which left hundreds of people injured and others dead. To help in curbing this, the architectural designs of the Olympic S stadium was designed to accommodate various security measures. The perimeter walls of the stadium were raised high enough to prevent any illegal and malicious entry into the stadium. In addition to the length of the walls, there was installation of electric wires, fence that riveted the security level of the stadium. To ensure further that there was maximum surveillance, CCTVS were installed all over the perimeter wall and in the buildings to ensure that vigilance was kept to the maximum (Findling 2012). The architectural designs were made to ensure that there was safety of the participants and comfort to the fans. This paper investigates various issues in line with the architectural design of the Olympic Stadium and security surrounding the entire event of the Olympics. In this essay, there is a close view at the capacity of the G4S the largest security firm in the world to handle security issues during the event. The paper also presents security measure that were taken by the military and the reaction of people due to the great number of military personnel in the city and in the Olympic venue Great (Britain 2008). The urgency and the immediate need sparked various rapid responses from various stakeholders; and despite the challenges that face by the Olympic security circles, the event ended successfully without security threats and terror attacks. Architecture and design, and effect of all the security issues on people Security is a major issue that can cause an important function/event like Olympic to be recommended in a country or not. The architectural designs in England were fixed to ensure that the security of everybody was well taken care of and that no one could stand as a victim of terrorism. The architectural designs were made and air defense systems were installed around the Olympic grounds. This was done to ensure that the possibility of suicide attackers could not penetrate their way through the stadium. Six missile sites were established of which four of them were purposefully designed to use rapier missiles two were categorically designed to employ the use of starstreak missiles. The government to the construction sites to ensure that security was well functional delivered these missiles. The rapier missiles are weapons made to shoot airplanes, which come at the surface as threat to the security of the people. The rapier missiles have attacking rador, which offers short-range defense. The weapons have eight missiles, which are sufficient to take care of attack that could come at a time. The starstreak were also erected on one of the tall building near the Olympic stadium. One of the tall buildings was next to the water towers next to the market, which attracted a bigger population. Binoculars systems were also installed at strategic point for the operation of the security officers to be able to locate any feeling of danger that could come during the Olympic period. The security infrastructure that was put in place in London influenced in peoples’ lives differently. The security infrastructure put in place became asserts to the economy of London. Business environment were heightened and peoples’ confidence of operation was greatly boosted. The Olympics will also influence people in London to venture in sporting activities. This is because the infrastructure is already in place with many venues of sports. The security infrastructures which remained after the Olympic games for which they were made has accelerated a number of activities to be taking place in London due to the sure security operations that are in place. This has promoted business in London since international diplomats and dignitaries visit London frequently. The legacy of London also has left London as a tourist center. People visit the areas hence creating business in London. The installation of cameras in various infrastructures has boosted security surveillance in London thus reducing the rate of criminal activities in the city. This action has significantly promoted people confidence of living in London and even investing there because of the sure security system. Further, the creation of a larger shopping mall in East of End of England would create the influx of the upper class in that area. This would mean that the economy of the East End would significantly increase. Additionally, the types of housing would have to change to accommodate the upper class. There was also the installation of the electric fence around the Olympic stadium. The presence of airborne drones also assured the attendants of their absolute safety in the stadium thus eliminating all the possibilities of worries from the attendants. The confidence of the participants is also boosted. This allows the participants to perform to their best without worry since their security and well being was well guaranteed. The dare demand for the security guards also led made security firms to employ a number of security personnel , which largely created employment in England. The feelings of people in the security arrangements in London People got worried on the security arrangement of the security measures that were put in place. First, London looked like a city where everybody was projected as a potential criminal. The city took a new shape that as the city was illuminate with security details. This level of security scared off as though there is a strong alarm of the looming danger. The deployment of the army would also create anxiety and fear in people. This is because people only get to interact with the army during trouble. Deployment of the army officers was not an object of comfort to the citizens. There was also a looming fear that tourists would be scared off and that they would not feel comfortable coming to England because of the security presence especially that of the army officers. These are facts, which Lord Coe addresses and assure people otherwise. Lord Coe stresses that the army officers would be deployed in proportion that their presence would not be very dominant in the city of London and in the Olympic stadium. People had a general feeling that security details was to be deployed but putting a big number of police and soldiers on the streets was a big cause to people. Psychologically, whenever people are exposed to armed police and worse of it the presence of the military raises people to fear. This was a potential cause of worry in people as though the city was expecting a major attack from the terrorist. However, a good number of people felt comfortable and in their opinion, this would raise the level of confidence in people. Peoples’ feeling on security and military Indeed the security details that were launched a head and during the London Olympic was not a wise move even though security was a thing that could not be gambled with. This move was not very prudent. The memories of the bombing of 7 July 2005 were still fresh in the memory of people. The upsurge of the military and the deployment of the security details that were put everywhere in the city sparked the memory of people and as a result evoked fear in people. This raised people to the level of imagining that there was an upcoming danger that people ought to respond to rapidly. In fact it is a common feeling that the military was acting out of fear. Just before the Olympic exercise, there was a show of might as jets were hover over the buildings and the interactions of the noises caused by the helicopters were present. The reason for this being that it was a preparation for the nine-day event. This did not warrant all the military preparation as though the nation was preparing for a planned major attack. Throughout the Olympic Games also, the military were armed with crowd dispersing gargets, which could generate noise that is not good for human beings. The noise had the potency of causing physical and psychological harm to people. There is also growing fear that loomed that the Muslims living in London could face some level of discrimination, as they could easily be associated with terrorists. This caused fear among the Muslims. The antiterrorism watchdog gave an inadequate direction to the police to launch reasonable suspicion before arresting suspected people associated with terrorism. During an Olympic Game or any of such a remarkable event in a country or a city; it is expected that the host should display to guests what they are proud of; contrary to this expectation, London displayed to nations the power of its military above all things. The allocation and stationing of military missiles next to the residential areas was also a thing that rouses great controversy. It was impractical to let such powerful weapon where people stay. The G4S Company was fit to deliver security services; this could have replaced the big number of the British army that was deployed to give the services. Nevertheless, a common opinion of people who were uncomfortable with the presence of the military thought and suggested that the government ought to have contracted multiple of security firms. It was also very apparent that most of the security guards who were recruited by the G4S could not speak good English thereby posing challenge in running the security affairs. The number of military officers that were deployed and the military strength that was displayed during the Olympic Games in London was a general showcase of fear than the protection of human life. How public spaces ceases not to be public spaces Due to the historical threats that had been posed during such events as the Olympics, especially the case of Germany terror attacks led to the increase of security vigilance during the London Olympics. The security details were biffed up to ensure that all the attendants were safe from any danger. Nothing was left to chance. However, public privacy was cancelled by the presence of the military even in places that were meant for the public. Public places ceased to be public places because they were strictly manned by the police, and the military. The public were allowed to enter the two-kilometer square site to walk freely without any disturbance to attend the events without tickets. This was not the case since the entrance of over two hundred thousand people was not left entirely open due to various security reasons. The park was further sealed with high fences nearly sixteen feet high surrounded by the electric fences all backed up with CCTV cameras sending signals to the control room (Leach 2009). The entrance to the Olympic Stadium was manned by a detailed security operations with cloths and bag detectives which ensured that everything that was gaining entrance to the stadium was properly scrutinized and well checked. The security checks were did not end at the entrance neither did it stop with the checks at the gates, even in the venue where people had their comforts enjoying the games, there were constant checks by the military and the police. This rigorous security exercise made the attendants even uncomfortable. People were not happy with such kinds of scrutiny because the level of suspicion was raised to everybody. Everybody was seen as a potential terrorist and a danger to the event. After the bombing just immediately when the Olympics were announced to be taking place in London, there was a major bombing that left people killed and some badly injured. This made security to be strengthened in public transport systems. People were categorically advised to use public means of transport as most of the roads were going to be closed and the transport security systems were greatly improved. There were improved security checks on public transport and every passenger was well checked to ascertain that they were not a threat to the public. Weapon loops were introduced to reduce the risks of terror attacks and the police department took full charge of the public transport. The upsurge of security details and the immense machinery put in river Thames at the city of London were so massive to be true for an Olympic game. All these preparations posed great challenges to the understanding of people. Perhaps, people thought that there was something more to the security preparation than the security to the Olympic (Machman 2013). Even the tourists felt shy to visit the city. This was because during and just before the Olympics, the level off the security details was a threat to their privacy. Tourists and visitors were given maximum-security checks, which they were uncomfortable with; the visitors felt as though they were seen as potential threat to the country rather than assets to the city of London. Further, the installation of missiles in public place limited people from assessing such area, partly due to the looming dangers that was associated with those places and partly because the military prohibited people from assessing those places, yet some of the places were residential. This was a major interference with public freedom. Security Plans and Achievement during the London Olympic The Great Britain has a good history of keeping the safety of major events that have taken place in England. This virtue led to the winning of the Olympic bid in 2012. There were various measures that were put in place to handle the security issues during the Olympic Games however; this did not materialize as the G4S Company: the largest security firm in the world could not delivery enough personnel to handle the security needs during the Olympic Games. This led to the adoption of a new security system, which made the government to deploy and commission military personnel to take charge of the whole event: an event, which would attract thousands of people in London (Bachman 2009). Such major event was a potential threat to the security since there was a looming threat from the terror groups to attack London during this event. This called for keen security and surveillance during the event. The failure of the G4S to provide the required number of security officers posed a heavy challenge that made the government to deploy a large number of security officers. This ensured that there was safety during the entire event. However, the great number of the security personnel especially the presence of the military evoked different feelings of people. The public was not happy with this move and it affected the rate at which tourists were visiting the country. This was because the level of security details significantly reminded people of the attacks of the past. Such, created great levels of anxiety in people that people stayed in suspicion during the entire period of the Olympic Games. Conclusion Olympic Games in 2012 ended successfully. People had different reaction as to the event but the major goals of the security details were achieved. The greater number of security personnel and the high level of vigilance bore fruits of a peaceful event during the entire period of the Olympic Game in London. Application of technology and the advanced architectural design made the event a success. The high level of security measures did not end with the Olympic after nine days. The investments that were made has made London to make strides towards economic independence and advanced in security measures. The CCTVS that were installed in the city were left and they still serve the same purpose of keeping the security of London up to date. This has promoted people confidence in the city more than any other time in history. The level of the security that was in London interfered with people psychologically but all the same, they later came to appreciate the attempts of the government to ascertain peace by all means since the Olympic was established to be one of the major targets of the terror groups who had made more than five visits to the Olympic Stadium. These people had taken keen study of the Olympic system and a strong mechanism to curb them was a necessity. This justifies the architectural designs and the upsurge number of the military deployed. Bibliography Bachman, L. R. (2009). Integrated buildings: The systems basis of architecture. Hoboken, New Jersey: J. Wiley. Findling, J. E. (2012). Encyclopedia of the modern Olympic movement. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press. Great Britain. (2008). Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Progress report June 2008. London: Stationery Office. Jencks, C., & FAT (Architectural firm). (2011). Radical post-modernism. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Leach, N. (2009). Digital cities. London: John Wiley. Machman, L. R. (2013): Major event security and lessons for the. (2012). s.l.: Routledge. Read More